Includes: Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD, ADHD and ADD) Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Committee for Special Education Committee for Preschool Special Education (CPSE) Coaching Co-Morbid Disorder DSM V Due Process Hearing (Impartial Due Process Hearing) Executive Functions Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Independent Hearing Officer (IHO) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Individual Education Program (IEP) Learning Disability (LD) or Specific Learning Disability (SLD) Least Restrictive Environment (LRO) Local Educational Agency (LEA) Mediation Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Occupational Therapy (OT) Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504) Special Education PTA (SEPTA) – State Review Officer (SRO) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

1. 28 TERMS EVERYONE
WITH ADHD MUST
KNOW!
Edge Foundation: Coaching for Success

2. 504 Plan
A plan setting forth services and/or Special
Accommodations for a child with a
disability, pursuant to Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of Counterpart of an
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA).

3. Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA)
A Federal anti-discrimination Statute that can
be used to protect students with disabilities
from discrimination in pursuit of a major life
activity (i.e. education).
The Act prohibits disability based
discrimination by agencies receiving Federal
funding.

4. Assistive Technology (AT)
An external device or functionality that seeks
to remediate a learning disability, or other
disorder, or to provide equal access to
educational services to children with
disabilities.

5. Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity
Disorder
(AD/HD, ADHD and ADD)
This general term encompasses Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD), hyperactive, inattentive
or combined types.

6. Behavior Intervention Plan
(BIP)
A plan of positive behavioral
interventions, made a part of the IEP of a child
whose behaviors interfere with that child’s
learning or their peers.

7. Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR)
Set of administrative regulations established
by the United States Department of Education
to interpret IDEA.

8. Committee for Special
Education
Sometimes referred to as the special
education team, that is required by the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) to provide an Individualized Education
Program (IEP) to address the needs of
children from Kindergarten through High
School Graduation, or the age of 21, who
qualify for Special Education Services
pursuant to the statute.

9. Committee for Preschool Special
Education (CPSE)
Similar in operation to the Committee for
Special Education, but deals with children from
two years of age up to Kindergarten.

10. Coaching
ADHD coaching works the same way as an
athletic coach, only the game is life. Your
ADHD coach will work with you on the skills
you may be missing and your game strategy.
Over time you will get better at all the things
that are hard for you right now --things like
planning, prioritizing, time management, and
organization.

11. Co-Morbid Disorder
A disorder, or Specific Learning Disability
(SLD) that is present along with another
functional disability.

12. DSM V
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders is published by the American
Psychiatric Association. It is the main
diagnostic reference for mental health
professionals in the United States.

13. Due Process Hearing (Impartial
Due Process Hearing)
An impartial hearing requested
by either parents or LEA. The
hearing is conducted before an
Independent Hearing Officer
(IHO) or Administrative Law
Judge (ALJ) who takes
testimony under oath and
presides.
The hearing is recorded and a
written decision is required to
resolve the dispute between
the parties. Either party can
appeal the decision of an IHO
to a State Review Officer
(SRO).

14. Executive Functions
A set of processes that all have to do with
managing oneself and one’s resources in
order to achieve a goal. It is an umbrella term
for the neurologically-based skills involving
mental control and self-regulation.

15. Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA)
Federal Statute that ensures both the right to
privacy and access of a student’s educational
records. It is important to note that the
protection of this law for children under 18
belongs to the parent and/or legal
guardian, while that protection switches to the
child at age 18, subject to a few limited
exceptions schools and parents must obtain
written consent of the student to share
educational information.

16. Independent Hearing Officer
(IHO)
An officer appointed by a State Department of
Education to hear disputes between parents
and school districts at a Due Process Hearing.
Depending upon the testimonial record, an
IHO has the authority to subpoena
documents, and/or order either side to comply
with his or her directive.

17. Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA)
An Educational Statute enacted by the Federal
Government and codified under 20 USC 1400.
IDEA governs children up to the age of 21 or
up to achieving their high school diploma. The
statute, now referred to as the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Improvement
Act, ensures that children with qualifying
disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public
Education (FAPE).

18. Individual Education Program
(IEP)
An education program required by the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Improvement Act, to be designed to meet the
specific needs of a disabled child who qualifies
for Special Education. The IEP must contain
annual goals and be reviewed on an annual
basis.

19. Learning Disability (LD) or
Specific Learning Disability
(SLD)
A disability category under IDEA which
includes disorders that affect the ability to
understand and/or use spoken or written
language, or which may be manifested by
difficulties with
listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, s
pelling and/or performing mathematical
calculations.
LD or SLD also includes minimal brain
dysfunction (AD/HD), dyslexia, dysgraphia
developmental aphasia and other disorders.

20. Least Restrictive Environment
(LRE)
A requirement under IDEA, that special
education and/or related services be provided
in, or as close to a main stream environment
as is possible or practicable under the
circumstances.

21. Local Educational Agency
(LEA)
The local school district responsible for
providing services to a student or group of
students.

22. Mediation
A procedural safeguard under IDEA to resolve
disputes between parents and LEA’s.
Mediation is a voluntary alternative to a to a
due process hearing and may not be used to
deny or delay a due process hearing. The
medication must be conducted by a qualified
and impartial mediator who is trained in
effective mediation techniques. The decision of
the mediator is non-binding and a
disagreement between the parties can still be
the basis for a due process hearing.

23. Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder
An anxiety disorder characterized by
distressing intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive
actions that interfere with the individual’s daily
functioning.

24. Occupational Therapy (OT)
A related service used to remediate deficits or
developmental problems with sensory
integration and fine motor skills.

25. Oppositional Defiant Disorder
(ODD)
Refers to a recurrent pattern of
negative, defiant, disobedient and hostile
behavior toward authority figures lasting at
least six months.

26. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 (504)
A Civil rights statute prohibiting recipients of
Federal funding from discrimination on the
basis of a disability.

27. Special Education PTA (SEPTA)
–
Branch of the local Parent Teacher Association
specializing in issues concerning children with
special needs.

28. State Review Officer (SRO)
An officer appointed by the State to review the
decision, on appeal, of an Independent
Hearing Officer (IHO) after a Due Process
Hearing.

29. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A disability category under IDEA which
includes acquired injury caused by external
physical force and open or closed head
injuries that result in impairments. It does not
include congenital or degenerative brain
injuries or injuries caused by birth trauma.